Peter Whitney 



AND HIS 



History of Worcester County 



PETER WHITNEY, AND HIS HISTORY OF 
WORCESTER COUNTY. 



^^ 




i/At^r 




PETER WHITNEY, AND HIS HISTORY OF 
WORCESTER COUNTY. 



By JOHN C. CRANE. 




WORCESTER, MASS. : 

FRANKLIN P. RICE, Publisher. 

MDCCCI-XXXIX. 






[Reprinted from the Proceedings of The Worcester Society of Antiquity for 1888.] 



Born Sept. 6th, (o. s.) 1744; died Feb. 29th, 1816. 
MINISTER OF NORTHBOROUGH 

FORTY-NINE YEARS. 



Peter Whitney. 




PETER WHITNEY, AND HIS HISTORY OF 
WORCESTER COUNTY. 



Rev. Peter Whitney was born at Petersham, Massachusetts, 
September 6 (o. s.), 1744. He was a son of the Rev. Aaron 
Whitney, the first minister of the church in Petersham, and who 
was ordained there in December, 1738, and continued preaching 
in that place until his death. Of him the following account has 
been handed down : 

"■Against Rev. Mr. Whitney, who had continued, both in his 
preaching and his praying, to inculcate submission to the sove- 
reign, the tide of popular indignation rose at length to a high 
pitch. The church was rent by dissensions, and public worship was 
neglected, till at length, about the close of 1774, the town voted 
that ' they will not bargain with, hire nor employ the Rev. Mr. 
Whitney to preach for them any longer.' Mr. Whitney attempted 
to open negotiations for a reconciliation with the people, but they 
refused to compromise with him, discontinued his salary, and, 
finding that that would not cause him to desist from preaching, 
they chose a committee often on the 24th of the next May, 'to 
see that the publick worship on Lord's day next, and all future 
worship be not disturl^ed by any person or persons going into the 
desk, but such as shall be put in by the towns committee.' In 



pursuance of this vote, an armed guard was stationed at the meet- 
ing-house door on Sunday morning, who, when the minister 
arrived, and would have entered as usual, refused to allow him to 
pass. After this, Mr. Whitney preached regularly at his own 
house on the Sabbath, the services being attended by those who 
were politically in sympathy with him." 

Peter Whitney, having prepared himself, entered Harvard 
College in 1759, and was graduated from that institution in the 
class of 1762, which numbered forty-seven. Among the class- 
mates of Mr. Whitney who afterwards occupied high places in the 
walks of life, and whose names history hands down to posterity, 
were Francis Dana, who was a member of Congress in 1777-8, 
and who was later sent to England on peace negotiations, Min- 
ister to Russia 1 780, Judge of the Massachusetts Supreme Court, 
1785, and Chief Justice from 1791 to 1806; Elbridge Gerry, 
member of the first Continental Congress, one of the Signers of 
the Declaration of Independence, Minister to France, 1797, 
Governor of Massachusetts, 18 10- 12, Vice-President of the United 
States, 1813-14; and many others, who in stations of less im- 
portance, faithfully served their fellow-men in their day and gen- 
eration. 

Mr. Whitney's theological studies were also pursued at the 
same institution. x\fter his graduation he for a time followed the 
occupation of school-teacher in the historic town of Lexington. 
At this place, January 2, 1763, he joined the Congregational 
Church. Having felt himself called to preach the gospel, we find 
that he was ordained to the ministry, and settled over the church 
in Northborough, November 4th, 1767, succeeding Rev. John 
Martyn, the first minister in that place. As in the case of many 
an old-time clergyman, this was his only pastorate. With them 
ofttimes a church settlement was a settlement for life. For half 
a century lacking one year he acted the part of a country minister, 
a faithful steward for his master. For this long period he went 
in and out before the little flock gathered about him, participating 
in their joys and sharing their sorrows. He was a man of method, 
although a little eccentric in some ways. As related to me by 
one of his grandsons, he was in the habit of walking to chun-h 



very sedately with his wife, ten of his children bringing up the 
rear, beginning with the eldest, then on down to the youngest. 
He was a man who took life easy, taking the hard knocks as they 
came, borrowing as little trouble as he could. 

Contemporary with him in the ministry of the Word were Rev. 
Dr. Joseph Sumner, of Shrewsbury ; Rev. Archibald Campbell, of 
Charlton ; Rev. Edmund Mills, of Sutton : Rev. Thaddeus Mac- 
carty, of the Old South, and Rev. Dr. Aaron Bancroft (father of the 
eminent historian, George Bancroft), of the Second Parish, Wor- 
cester ; and Rev. Dr. John Crane, an ancestor of the writer, who 
preached the first sermon at the organization of what is known as 
the Worcester South Conference of Congregational Churches, 
held at Millbury June 17, 1828. Space forbids the mention of 
many other faithful servants engaged with Mr. Whithey during 
his long ministry of the gospel. 

He was a member of the Marlborough Association. In Sep- 
tember, 1806, he was chosen a member of a committee to meet 
delegates from that and other associations at Rutland soon after- 
wards, when the outcome was "The Evangelical Missionary 
Society," which was productive of much good. It was my fortune 
several years ago to attend the funeral of Capt. John Glazier of 
Worcester, but for many years a prominent business man of 
Northborough. The funeral was held at the latter place, where 
Mr. Whitney so long preached. After the funeral sermon, an 
opportunity was given for those present to say a word in reference 
to the deceased. Several did so, men whose locks were white 
with the frost of age ; men who as boys sat under the preaching 
of Peter Whitney, and who, judging from their general appear- 
ance and the tone of their remarks, were greatly benefited thereby. 

In the political business of his day he took a deep interest, more 
perhaps than most men of his calling. Judging from what can 
be gathered from all sources, I feel justified in saying, that in all 
matters that benefitted the people, whether political, social or 
religious, he was ever found an earnest advocate. 

During his lifetime Mr. Whitney put forth several publications, 
most of them being very brief. The largest work by him, and by 
which he is best known to-day, is his History of Worcester 
County. Following is a list of his published writings : 



Two Discourses on the occasion of a Publick Fast. 1774. 

A Sermon on the Declaration of Independence.* 1776. 

History of Worcester County. 1 793. 

A Half-Century Discourse on praising the works of God to 
succeeding generations. Delivered at Northborough June 14th, 
1796. 

An Ordination Charge at Boylston. 1797. 

A Sermon at the ordination of his son. Quincy, 1800. 

A Sermon on the death of Washington. 1800. 

Address at the dedication of a church, Southborough. 1806. 

A Funeral Sermon at Shrewsbury at the death of the wife of 
Rev. Dr. Sumner. 18 10. 

He was still with the church at Northborough when he pub- 
lished his History of the County in 1793. Such a history was 
greatly needed at the time, and Mr. Whitney was persuaded by 
his friends to undertake the work. Having been born in the 
county, he felt an interest in its history. The work having been 
begun proved more formidable than he expected. In the preface 
he says : " Had the writer of these sheets known before he began, 
what a labor it would have been, he would not have attempted 
it, but having begun he was unwilling to desist, and has been 
urged on by the partiality of his friends." 

Could he have foreseen the estimation in which his work would 
be held a century later, the old parson would have been amply 
repaid for all the labor spent upon it. No book of its kind 

♦Januarys, 1778, an advertisement appeared in 77/t' Massachusetts Spy, 
of a sermon preached by Rev. Peter Whitney of Northborough, at a special 
lecture appointed for publishing the Declaration of Independence, Sept. 12, 
1776, entitled, "American Independence Vindicated." In the Spy of Jan. 
15, 1778, we notice the following in relation to the above: "The copy [of 
the sermon] was prepared for the press more than twelve months ago, and 
a considerable part of the impression made, when, through the fraud of some 
journeymen, the work was discontinued at Worcester, and sent to Boston, 
where through the want of paper, and other unfortunate circumstances, it 
now first makes its appearance. It is not doubted that this excellent sermon 
will now be very acceptable to the publick. — Stearns & Bigklow." 



13 

is more relied upon than his. The town histories pubHshed 
in the County, and State gazetteers put forth since that day, teem 
with quotations from it, thus showing the confidence placed in its 
details. An elaborate map for that day preceded the title-page. 
This map was prepared from surveys by Charles Baker and Capt. 
John Pierce, both residents of the county. It was on a scale of 
four miles to the inch, and bears the name of Seymour & Co. 
The title-page reads as follows : "The History of the County of 
Worcester, in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, with a par- 
ticular account of every Town, from its first settlement to the 
present time, including its ecclesiastical state. Together with a 
Geographical Description of the same. To which is prefixed a 
Map of the County at large, from actual survey. By Peter Whit- 
ney, A. M., Minister of the Gospel in Northborough, in said 
Jounty. Printed at Worcester, Massachusetts, by Isaiah Thomas. 
Sold by him in Worcester, by said Thomas and Andrews in Bos- 
ton, and by said Thomas and Carlisle in Walpole, New Hamp- 
shire. MDCCXCIII." 

The History was dedicated in the following manner : "To John 
Adams, LL. D., Vice-President of the United States, and Presi- 
dent of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, etc., etc., 
this history intended to promote the knowledge of a part of his 
native Commonwealth, is inscribed, with all respect, by his most 
obedient and humble servant, Peter Whitney. Northborough, 
July, 1793." 

May 2, 1793, the following advertisement appeared in The 
Massachusetts Spy : 

" Proposal for printing by subscription, A History of the County 
of Worcester, Commonwealth of Massachusetts. By Peter 
Whitney, A. M. 

" Conditions : ist. — This work shall be printed in a handsome 
8vo. volume, on good paper, and a fair type, and will contain 
above 300 pages. 2d. — The price to subscribers in boards, shall 
be 6 shillings for each book and 8 shillings bound and lettered. 
3d. — No money to be paid until the books are ready for delivery, 
when punctual payment will be expected. 4th. — The work shall 
be put to press as soon as 400 copies are subscribed for. • Sub- 



14 

scriptions received by Isaiah Thomas, the intended pubHsher in 
Worcester; by said Thomas & Andrews in Boston, and by such 
gentlemen as in whose hands subscription papers are lodged. 
Those gentlemen who have in their hands subscription papers for 
the work are requested to be so obliging as to return them as 
speedy as possible to the author in Northborough, or to Isaiah 
Thomas." 

The next that we find in reference to the book we quote from 
the Spy : " District of Massachusetts. On the 20th day of Jan- 
uary in the i8th year of the Independence of the United States, 
Isaiah Thomas deposited the title of a book, to wit, The History 
of Worcester County, whereof he claims as proprietor. 

"N. Goodale, Clerk of the District." 

Although the History is dated 1 793, we find nothing more in 
relation to the work until April 24, 1 794, when the Spy published 
the following advertisement : " This day published, price 9 shill- 
ings bound and lettered, Whitney's History of Worcester County. 
Subscribers may now be supplied with books." This advertise- 
ment was repeated several times. In the Spy of Feb. 6, 1805, an 
advertisement of the History again appears after a long interval : 
" History of the County of Worcester. In one volume, octavo, 
with a large and accurate map. Price one dollar and fifty cents. 
The above work certainly contains many useful and valuable doc- 
uments respecting the settlement, rise and progress of the County 
of Worcester, which are not to be found elsewhere, and which 
must not only prove interesting and instructive to our youth, who 
may wish to become acquainted with the history of their own 
county. The map itself is certainly worth half the money." 

Through the courtesy of the American Antiquarian Society, 
I am permitted to give a copy of the original contract between 
Peter Whitney and Isaiah Thomas, now in the possession of that 
Society : 

AGREEMENT. 

" Memorandum of an agreement made this fifteenth day of 
August, one Thousand Seven hundred and Ninety three, between 
Peter Whitney of Northborough, in the County of Worcester and 
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Clerk, on the one part, and 



15 

Isaiah Thomas of Worcester in said county and commonwealth, 
Printer, on the other part, Witnesseth, That the said Whitney 
hereby sells and relinquishes to the said Thomas the copyright of 
a Book whereof he is the Author entitled "A History of the County 
of Worcester, in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, with a par- 
ticular account of every Town from its first settlement to the present 
time etc — together with a map of the County at large, from actual 
survey" — for the consideration that the Said Thomas give him the 
Said Whitney Ninety four Copies of Said Book, when published, 
bound and lettered. Six Copies bound lettered and gilt, and fifty 
Copies in Sheets (Said Thomas to bind Said fifty Copies for Said 
Whitney, he paying Said Thomas therefor the Sum of Two Shillings 
for each Copy) ; and Further to give said Wliitney one hundred 
Copies, bound and lettered, of all future Editions of Said Book 
provided Said Whitney revise, correct, and add to the Same what- 
ever may by Said Thomas be Deemed necessary ; and also by 
said Whitney. 

" In Testimony whereof the Parties have hereunto Set their 
hands and Seals the Day and year before written. 

" Peter Whitney [Seal.] 
" In presence of Isaiah Thomas "[Seal.] 

" Alex' Thomas Jun'. 

"Elisha H. Waldo." 

Previous to the death of Mr. Whitney he had revised and cor- 
rected a copy of his History up to the year iSio. The copy so 
corrected by his own hand is now in the possession of the Ameri- 
can Antiquarian Society. It was evidently his intention to pub- 
lish another edition, but his death soon after left his project 
uncompleted. 

Mr. Whitney possessed in a remarkable degree the qualifica- 
tions that go to make a good historian. To be sure, the field 
was his own, and unworked before ; but without judgment and 
painstaking care no correct history can be written. The greed 
for gain shown in the preparation of some modern histories, has 
done much to mystify the student. The careless manner in which 
much of the matter has been collected, is apparent from their 



i6 



work when completed. No correct history can be given unless 
those engaged in writing it are actuated by some other motive 
than the accumulation of the Almighty Dollar. 

It is evident from the History by Peter Whitney that he was 
thoroughly interested in the work in which he was engaged. It 
is laid down by a great writer that -'Truth is the most important 
attribute of history." In the main, facts and dates must be gath- 
ered from annals and acts publicly recorded by the persons 
chosen for that purpose ; and this is of more importance when 
the writer is not contemporary with the events noted. On this 
point it will be found that Mr. Whitney took the utmost care. 
The best sources of information were at once resorted to by him. 
If unable to give the right name of anything, or the date of any 
event, he called particular attention to that fact, not undertaking 
to fill the deficiency by substituting those of his own. 

It is said, "We ought to distrust a historian who is deficient in 
critical discernment, who is fond of fables, or who scruples not, 
in order to please and amuse his readers, to alter or disguise the 
truth." The subject of this sketch is open to none of the charges 
in the above statement. Mr. Whitney confined himself to giving 
a plain, unvarnished presentation of facts. The history of each 
town in the county was briefly told, from its incorporation to date 
of publication. The geography of the towns, and their church 
history came in for their full share in the work. A table was 
given showing the dates of incorporation of the towns, the settle- 
ment, death or dismissal of the several ministers, and the number 
of inhabitants in each town up to 1791, which has been found to 
be an invaluable aid in the preparation of later historical work. 
Also will be found in his History a terse, but quite complete 
article on the rivers of the county, their sources, and all the de- 
tails necessary to give a thorough knowledge of their courses from 
fountain head to delivery of their tribute. One other history of 
the county has been, and others will be, written ; but the one by 
Peter Whitney will endure while time shall last, as a solid foun- 
dation of facts built by a master workman, whose clear brain 
guided a willing pen as it wove a fabric of truth for generations 
vet to come. 



17 

The house where the old historian Hved so long at Northborough 
is still occupied and well-preserved. Within this old mansion a 
work was begun and finished, that has outlived him who wrought 
three-fourths of a century ago. Here brain was busy with facts and 
dates. Important though they were, the details were sometimes 
tiresome. Nevertheless the work went steadily on to completion ; 
and when finished, it was a work of which the generation of his 
time were not ashamed, and which stands to-day an enduring 
monument to Peter Whitney. 

March ii, 1768, Mr. Whitney was married to Julia Lambert, 
of Reading, Mass. They had eleven children, whose names and 
dates of birth and death are as follows : 

Thomas Lambert, born Dec. 10, 1768; died June, 1812. 

Peter, born Jan. 19, 1770 ; died March 3, 1843. 

Julia, died in infancy. 

Julia, born Aug. 25, 1772 ; died Nov. 29, 1800. 

Margaret, born Feb. 12, 1774 ; married Dea. Josiah Adams of 
Quincy ; and died Feb. 3, 1849. 

Elizabeth, born Sept. 6, 1775; married Ebenezer Adams of 
Quincy, wdiose brother Josiah married her sister Margaret ; died 
Sept. 26, 1856. 

William Lincoln, who afterwards became a Colonel, born Dec. 
14, 1776; died July 24, 1834. 

Aaron, born Aug. 11, 1778 ; went West, where he died. 

Sarah, born Nov. 3, 1781 ; lived until she reached the age of 
84 in 1864. 

Abel, born May 23, 1783.* He became deacon of a church 
in Cambridge, Mass. ; and died in that city Feb. 22, 1853. One 
of his sons became a practising lawyer in that city. 

John, born Sept. 29, 1785. He became a teacher and business 
man at Quincy. where he died Jan. 2, 1850. 

*In Rev. Joseph Allen's History of the Worcester Association, published 
in 1868, the birth of Abel Whitney is recorded as occurring Nov. 3, 1781, 
which is incorrect. The date, corrected as above, J have from a grandson 
of Peter Whitney : namely, Mr. Augustus A. Whitney, of North Cambridge, 
Mass., to whom I am indebted for valuable information. 



In 1868, it was said that none of Mr. Whitney's descendants 
were then living in Northborough, where he preached and resided 
for so long a period. In the family of Mr. Whitney the ministry 
seems to have been a chosen profession. His father, Aaron, as 
before stated was minister at Petersham ; Peter at Northborough ; 
Peter, Jr., at Quincy ; George, son of Peter, Jr., at West Rox- 
bury and Jamaica Plain ; and Frederick Augustus, another son, 
at Brighton. One son of Mr. Whitney, Peter, Jr., and three 
grandsons were also graduates of Harvard College. 

Mr. Whitney died suddenly Feb. 29, 181 6. He lies buried at 
Northborough, near where he told the glad tidings of the gospel 
for half a century. The grave is pleasantly located on high 
ground, but the marks of time are all about it. Like many of 
the oldest church-yards in New England, this one is but little 
used. There within the sound of the old church bell lies the 
first historian of the County. But its tones he heeds not ; 'midst 
crumbling gravestones, and the bones of the early dead, he sleeps 
well. Over his grave climbs the straggling briar ; the daisy and 
the buttercup nod their heads as the wind sweeps by, but the 
spirit of the good man is with God who gave it. 

The following tribute appeared at the time of Mr. Whitney's 
death in 1816 : 

"Died in Northborough on the 29th of February, Rev. Peter 
Whitney, in the ^26. year of his age, and the 49th of his ministry. 
On the 5th instant (March) his remains were accompanied to the 
house of worship, and from thence to the grave, by a numerous 
procession of relations, friends and acquaintances, and with all 
the solemnities by which a religious people could express their 
affection and respect for his character. He has left a widow and 
children to mourn his death. 

Mr. Whitney was the son of the Rev. Aaron Whitney, many 
years minister of Petersham. He graduated at Cambridge College 
(Harvard) in 1762, and in November of 1767, was ordained as 
the pastor of the church and people of Northborough. Few men 
gave in life a fairer exemplification of the virtues and graces of a 
Christian minister, as these are portrayed by the Apostle, than 



19 

the subject of this sketch. His disposition was mild and benev- 
olent. He possessed urbanity of manners and was "given to 
hospitality." He was the friend of the poor and distressed, and 
"ready to every good work." As a theologian he was catholic; 
disapproving an exclusive spirit among the disciples of the same 
master. In his ministerial and Christian intercourse, he readily 
extended his charity to all who by their lives evidenced that they 
loved the " Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity and truth." His method 
of preaching was evangelical, and his sermons partook of the 
mild and charitable spirit of the gospel. He was attentive to the 
various duties of his office, unwearied in their performance ; and 
wherever his agency was directed, he manifested a disposition 
to diffuse the kindly influences of our religion. Industrious in 
his habits, Mr. Whitney found time to labor for the pubUc with- 
out the strict line of his profession. Having previously printed a 
number of occasional sermons, in 1793, he published a history of 
the County of Worcester. Correct in its dates, and authentic in 
its facts, its utility is acknowledged by all who become acquainted 
with its merits. It is a book to which intercourse is frequently 
had ; and it should be found in the library of every gentleman, 
who desires to make himself acquainted with the first settlement 
and subsequent growth of the county. 

"This publication brought the author into the notice of our 
literary institutions, and in consequence he was elected a member 
of the Historical Society of Massachusetts. With much care Mr. 
Whitney had collected materials to amend and enlarge his His- 
tory, and had nearly put them into form for a second edition. 
We hope that it may be presented to the public for the benefit 
of his family. 

" Mr. Whitney had the happiness to be connected with a people 
truly Christian and generous, who ever manifested towards him 
their sympathy and beneficence. In the former part of his min- 
istry his dwelling, with his library and a great part of his manu- 
scripts and household furniture, were consumed by fire. On this 
occasion, they very generously administered to his relief, and at 
no subsequent period did they cease from their friendly and 
benevolent attention to him and his family. Mr. Whitney passed 



20 



his long ministry in perfect peace and harmony both with the 
Church and .Society. At his death, he left but one male who was 
a member of the Church at his ordination, and but one couple 
who at that time were married. Having filled up the measure of 
his life, having been active and useful unto the end, encircled 
with domestic endearments, possessed of the affection and esteem 
of the people of his charge, and respected by numerous and val- 
uable friends and acquaintances, Mr. Whitney, without suffering 
the pain of disease or the decrepitude of age, was gathered unto 
his fathers, and in spirit we trust, now realizes the worth of that 
divine benediction, 'Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord.' " 

The following contribution is thought to be worthy of a place 
in this paper : 

" Northborough, Sept. 26, 1769. The good women of North- 
borough, zealous of emulation — yea, ambitious of excelling their 
sisters in other towns, agreed to spin what each should please, 
and appointed a day on which to meet at the house of Rev. Mr. 
Whitney, to present him and his consort with what each had spun 
for that end ; — accordingly, on the day appointed, they assembled 
at the house of their minister about 3 o'clock in the P. M., bring- 
ing with them the Fruit of their Labours & Lidustry. Upon 
computing, it was found that they had brought 70 fourteen 
knotted skains of Linen, 94 seven-knotted skains of Tow, cS: 8^ 
seven-knotted skains & 4 knots of Cotton : amounting to 2223 
knots : also one woman brought a Linen Sheet ; two others brought 
each of them a towel, another sent a pound of worsted : all of 
which they generously gave to their Reverend pastor. The num- 
ber of women was forty-four. It is presumed that this act of 
generosity much exceeds what any other people have done for 
their minister in this way, that we have heard of: especially will 
it be thought so when the smallness of the place, the fewness of 
its members, that this was spun at their 07vn liouses, and out of 
their ozvn materials are considered." 

"The above is copied from the 'Massachusetts Gazette,' Oct. 
5, 1769, nearly six years before the commencement of the Revo- 



lution. It is interesting to notice the changes in, the employments 
and habits of the mothers and daughters of our own little village 
since the above date. Nearly all the families in the town, we 
suppose, were represented by the forty-four women who brought 
in or sent contributions to their pastor ; and all these women 
were spinners, and all the material — the wool and the flax — were 
grown on the farm ; only ' ^2, seven knotted skeins and 4 knots 
of cotton,' being of foreign growth — imported, no doubt, from 
the East Indies. Cotton cloth must then have been a great rarity ; 
and a dress of calico must have been as fashionable and as much 
sought after by the young women of that day as silks and velvets 
are now. In those early times no one dreamed that in less than 
a century, cotton would be king, a despot, that affected to rule 
with absolute sway ; against whose usurpation and tyranny there 
would be in- the coming ages a great uprising of twenty millions 
of freemen, determined to free themselves from an ignominious 
bondage. 

"Rev. Mr. Whitney was at this time a young and popular min- 
ister, having been settled as pastor of the Church in Northborough 
scarcely two years. His wife, too. afterwards known and still 
remembered by a few as Madame Whitney, was also a young and 
blooming bride. She was a native of Reading in this State, and 
on the occasion of her wedding was honored by a cavalcade of 
young men from Northborough, who met the bridal party at 
Marlborough and escorted them to their home, where they were 
received by a large number of the inhabitants of the town, who 
had taken possession of the parsonage and made ready a bounti- 
ful repast. A delegation of two members of the Church, — as we 
learned from the lips of one of the number, the late Thaddeus 
Fay, who died in 1822 at the age of 95,— attended the wedding 
ceremony, and accompanied the bridegroom and bride on horse- 
back, the whole distance. 

"Madame Whitney (formerly Julia Lambert) died while on a 
visit to her son, the late Peter Whitney, of Quincy, Jan. 10, 1821, 
about five years after the death of her husband." 



The following correspondence will be of interest here, and will 
serve to show the oldtime ideas of ministerial courtesy and pro- 
priety.* 

[Rev. Peter Whitney to Rev. Reuben Puffer, of Berlin.] 

Northborough, April 22*^, 1801. 

Dea7- Sir: — Since I saw you last (Sabbath evening) at Mr. 
Packard's, some things have taken place, which need, and must 
have an explanation, before any ministerial intercourse is renewed 
between us. 

In the meantime, to prevent all future difficulty, I now tell you, 
plainly & explicitly, that if you wish to preserve the harmony 
which has, for so many years, happily subsisted between us ; & to 
keep up that ministerial interchange of kind and brotherly offices 
which has, heretofore, been so much for our mutual advantage, 
you must not presume, in any case or instance whatsoever, to 
come within the limits of Northborough to perform any minis- 
terial act or service, when I am at home, & able to perform the 
same. I am, your friend & brother, 

PETER WHITNEY. 
Rev. Mr. Puffer. 



[Mr. Puffer to Mr. Whitney.] 

Berlin, April 23d-, 1801. 

Rev. &= Dear Sir: — The explanation you demand in your letter 
of yesterday, it was my determination to have given unasked, the 
first convenient opportunity. 

Last Saturday, Deacon Davis came to me with a request from 
Mrs. Ball to attend the funeral of her husband on the Monday 
following. I observed to him, that, previous to my answer, I 

* I am indebted to Rev. W. A. Houghton, of Berlin, for the privilege of 
obtaining the copies of these letters. They are published with the approval 
of representatives of Mr. Whitney's family. 



must first know your sentiments respecting such a step. He in- 
formed me, that he had conversed with you on the subject, and 
that, on his proposing to you this question, "Will Mr. Puffer's 
attending Mr. Ball's funeral create any difficulty betwixt you & 
him;" your answer was, after some hesitation, "No, not that I 
know of." This by no means satisfied me ; and I told the Dea- 
con, that I doubted the propriety of my going, and desired him 
to return and urge Mrs. Ball, by every consideration, to send for 
you. This he agreed to do, first requesting me to accompany 
him. Flattered with the hope of being the happy instrument of 
bringing to a conclusion a long subsisting difficulty, I consented ; 
but went with the full determination of not attending on Monday, 
in case my arguments failed of the desired effect. The conver- 
sation that took place was too lengthy to be detailed. Suffice it 
to say, that, after exhausting every topic of persuasion, to no pur- 
pose, I conveyed to Mrs. Ball in an oblique manner, and in the 
softest terms possible, a denial of her request. She fell into tears 
— said she wished not to involve me in difficulty — and that, if it 
must be so, she acquiesced in it as the will of Providence. In 
that impressive moment, I felt my resolution give way. Turning 
to Deacon Davis, I said to him, " Is it your opinion, sir, from all 
the conversation you have had with Mr. Whitney, that my at- 
tending this funeral will cause him to be off"ended with me?" He 
directly answered, "No." I then consented to attend ; first de- 
siring that Mrs. Ball would invite you to be present, still enter- 
taining the secret hope, that a friendly interview, especially on so 
solemn an occasion, might efface every unfavorable impression, 
and revive ancient friendship. 

From this statement you will perceive, that nothing was further 
from my intentions than to grieve or offend you. Could I have 
foreseen that you would have viewed my conduct in the offensive 
light you do, no ordinary consideration should have prevailed 
with me to have gone into Northborough on such an occasion. 
Malignity towards you, I trust you will believe me when I say, I 
certainly had none. And if you think it a weakness in me, to 
suffer myself to be overcome by a sight unusually aff"ecting, I hope 
vou will at least allow it to be a pardonable one. 



24 

And thus, sir, I have rendered you the explanation you ask. 
Whether satisfactory, or not, I must leave you to decide. 

Respecting the latter part of your letter, I am unable to reply 
to it so fully as I could wish, till I know how far you extend the 
idea of "any ministerial act or service." A neighbor & parish- 
ioner of mine moves within the limits of Northborough. Sick- 
ness & death invade his family. I make him a visit on the occa- 
sion. This is a lower act of ministerial service. I converse with 
him, and offer him the consolations of the gospel. This is a fur- 
ther act of it. He earnestly requests me, his former minister, to 
pray with & for him in his affliction. This is a still higher act of 
it. Be pleased to let me know which, or whether all of these, 
fall within your meaning of "any ministerial act or service," which 
you "plainly «& explicitly" tell me, I "must not presume, in a7iy 
case or instance whatsoever, to come within the limits of North- 
borough to perform." Or, I have a son in Northborough : must 
I not "presume" to pray with him, in case of sickness, till your 
permission is first obtained? Be assured, Sir, that no one will be 
more careful than I, " to prevent all future difficulty ; " but if you 
mean, by anything you have said, to place me in a singular & 
disadvantageous situation, I better know what becomes me as a 
man, and a Christian minister, than tamely to submit to it. In 
the meantime I act on no principle which I will complain of in 
another. And therefore, though I shall not probably again "come 
within the limits of Northborough," on any occasion similar to 
that which has given you so much offence ; yet I give you my 
free consent to "come within the limits" of Berlin, for the pur- 
pose of performing "any ministerial act or service," to which you 
may be invited, whether " I am at home, and able to perform the 
same " or not. 

As you have thought fit to suspend our " ministerial intercourse," 
till such time as a satisfactory "explanation" of my conduct shall 
be given ; I have a right to expect that you will explicitly inform 
me, whether you consider this communication in that light, or not ; 
as in the latter case, I am determined to take measures to ascer- 
tain, whether I had your consent to attend Mr. Ball's funeral, or 
went without it. I am, Rev. & Dear Sir, respectfully yours. 
Rev. Mr. Whitfiev. REUBEN PUFFER. 



25 

[Mr. Whitney to Mr. Puffer.] 

Northborough, April 27th, 1801. 

Dear Sir : — Your letter of the 23d inst. I received next day, at 
evening in the midst of company ; & have had company till this 
morning, & then had sick to visit ; & this afternoon, though I now 
have company, I think it expedient to make the following reply. 

The explanation you have given is so far satisfactory as to 
operate for the entire renewal of our ministerial intercourse in any 
and every respect. 

As a proof of this, I request you to attend my lecture on the 
Thursday after next (the 7th of-May) & come in season to dine. 
I know not whose turn it will be to preach, as I mean to send to 
Mr. Sumner. 

As to the latter part of my letter to you of the 2 2d inst., you 
make some exceptions to my general, perhaps, universal proposi- 
tion, to which I readily consent, as being not only, not improper, 
but very reasonable. 

Perhaps you may think of some others hereafter, which you 
may suppose your duty as a man, & a Christian minister may lead 
you to make, but I shall reserve to myself the liberty to consider 
& receive any acts of yours in conformity to such exceptions, as 
brotherly or otherwise, according to existing circumstances : 
nothing doubting, however, from what you say, that your prudence 
& caution will lead you to avoid everything which might grieve or 
offend a weak brother. I am Sir, your friend & brother, 

PETER WHITNEY. 
Rev. Mr. Puffer. 



Note. — "The sequel of thi.s affair was that Deacon Jonathan Livermore, 
the centenarian, son-in-law of James Ball, senior, died within a few days. 
The Balls would not have Mr. Whitney; Mr. Puffer this time respectfidly 
declined, so the good old deacon was buried without obsequies." 



LIBRftRY OF CONGRESS 
013 996 536 ft i 



